The Russellville Democrat., 1887-12-14

snmsrs of all articles imported and subject b duty, by precisely the sum pad for
 atty msasuras tho no tax paid py those e who sso l purchase for use these imported articles. Many of these things, however, are raised or duties now levied upon foreign goods and pro- ducts are called protection to these home manufactures, because they render 1t possible for.those of our people who are manufacturers to make these taxed articles and sell them for D price equal to that demanded for the i'm ported goods that have paid customs duty. So it happens that, while comparatively q few use the imported articles, millions ot our people, who never use and never saw any Of
 thras the foreign products, pro purchase and use this country and pay therefor nearly or qnite the same enhanced price which the duty adds to tho imported articles Those who buy
 imports pay the duty chorged thereon into the public treasury, but the great majority of our citizens who buy domestic articles of the same
 class pay sum at least approximately equal
 to this duty to the home manufacturer This
 reference to the operation of our tarn laws is
 not made by way of instruction, but in order
 manner in which they impose a burden upon
 those who consume domestic products as well
 as those who consume imported articles, and
 thus create a tax upon all our people.
 It IS not proposed to entirely relieve the coun-
 try of this taxation. It must be extensively
 continued as the source of the Governments in
 come and i'll a readjustment Of our tarla the
 interests of American labor engaged in manu.
 facture should be carefully considered as well
 as the preservation Of our manufacturers. It
 may be called protection, or by any other name,
 but relief from the hardships and dangers of
 our present tarif laws should be devised with
 especial preoaution against imperiling the ex-
 istence Of our manufa turing interests. But
 this existence should not mean Q condition
 which, without regard to the public welfare
 or National exigency, must al
 ways insure the realization of immense
 profits instead of moderately profitable re-
 turns. As the volume and diversity of our Ma
 uonal activities increase, new recruits are
 f0 axrFtse
 advantages which they conceive the present system of tarin taxation directly affords tbem. So stubbornly have all efforts to reform the present condition been resisted by those of our fellow-citzens thus engaged that they can hardly complain oi the suspicion, entertained to certain extent, that there existed an organ ized combination all along the line to maintain their advantage
 We are in the midst of centennial celebra- tions, and with becoming pride were rejoice in American skill and ingenuity, American energy and enterprise, and in the wonderful natural advantages and resources developed by a century's National growth. Yet when an at tempt is made to justify a scheme which per mits Q tax to be laid upon every consumer in the land for the benefit of our manufactures quite beyond reasonable demand for Govsrn- mental regard ft suits the purposes of advocacy to call our manufactures infant industries, stlil I needing the highest and greatest degree of l Iavor ana fostering care that can be wrung from Federal legislation,
 It is also said that the increase in the 1 price of domestic manufactures resulting | from the present tarin is necessary in order | that higher wages may be paid to our | worlzngmen employed in manufactories. than | are paid for what is called the pauper labor of | Europe. All will acknowledge the force Of the | argument that government which involves | the welfare and liberal compensation of our | labor is honorable in the eyes of every Ameri- | can citizen; and as 1t lies at the foundation of | our development and progress, 1t is entitled, | without affectasion hypocrisy, to the ut | most regard. The standard Of our laborers' life should not be measured by that Of any | other country less favored, and they are en- titled to their full share of all our advantage
 By the last census it is made to appear that | of the 17,592, ,e91 of our population engaged in all kinds of industries T,D71,d9J are employed in agriculture. 4074.235 in professional and per sonal service, C2,93i.S78 of whom are domestic servants and lahorcrs) while i.Sip. .256 are em- ployed in trade and transportation, and ss7, 1i2 arse @fSffcsha @fSffsha if incis, should be ens@41I @
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